Morning Paddler - Figures on Friday #7

 

Morning Paddler, 5 x 7, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

(Still wet, available to ship on Nov 22)

Please forgive the glare on this one. Dark paintings are hard to photograph because they are so reflective. I shot this in many different locations and light trying to avoid it... but I could not eliminate it completely. 

One reader pointed out that a whole series on "boys playing with sticks" could be fun. I agree... how about KIDS playing with sticks!!! Paddling, fishing, hiking... sports in general... it seems like sticks are always IN hand and ON hand for every adventure. This morning kayaker is a grown up example of how kids will always be KIDS! 

I love sticks too! Paintbrushes? Mm-hmmm, sticks! More please! ;) 

Dry Dock Sparkle and an upcoming Workshop!

Dry Dock Sparkle, 16 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel ©2021

Available

When I spotted this boat up on its stand, I loved how the light was hitting it and all the shapes around it. But I had two obstacles: it was behind a chain-link fence, and I forgot my easel's tripod. What to do? Too far away to go back for the tripod, and the light would change anyway if I tried. Well, you know what they say about necessity is the mother of invention... One problem solved the other... I ended up sitting on the ground with my easel leaning against the fence (which I could easily see through). AND, I really loved the angle I had of the underbelly of the boat! It all worked out... a good lesson in not giving up. 

Please join me for my fall workshop at St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast! (C'mon, c'mon... one last hurrah before the holidays hit!) 

Call to register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air 

Nov 4-6, 2021

9am - 4pm

$495

St. Simons Island, GA

Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Boatyard Shadows

Boatyard Shadows, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

It's almost always about the light and shadows for me. I absolutely love how light defines objects and the resulting fantastical shadow patterns. With this one, it was the light, the shadows AND that yummy turquoise! As the afternoon progressed, the color of the light kept getting warmer and more orangey (see below... is "orangey" even a word?) It was so much fun to watch... And paint! 

Upcoming workshops:

St. Simons Island, GA - April 8-10

Austin, TX - May 14-15 (full w/wait list)

Click here for registration information.

See what I mean??? Orangey! 

Setting Sail and Happy New Year!

Setting Sail, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

"I miss your blog posts..." emailed a friend and blog follower yesterday. Her heartfelt concern and not so little nudge hit the mark and got me going. (Friends are like that. Thank you, JM.) I never meant to be away for so long, but time really flies, especially during the holidays. And then it is hard to get back on track. Have you noticed that?

I spent much of November and December on St. Simons Island in Georgia... teaching a workshop, plein air painting, and enjoying family. It was wonderful to have some down time and a wide open schedule, especially after one of the craziest years ever! This is a piece from those final days of 2020. I loved that I was able to be outside, observing and painting, and soaking up all the peace that nature has to offer.

We find ourselves "setting sail" once again, with a brand new year ahead. May it be a great one for us all! So much possibility! 

2021 spring workshop schedule (click for registration details):

April 8-10 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May14-15 - Austin, Texas

Workshop fun... 

AND... precious family joy!!!

Winter Harbor

Winter Harbor, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

Another title for this piece could have been "Moored and Forgotten". Although the harbor waters were smooth as glass, the air was frosty and no one was out for water sports of any kind! The upside??? Those three boats stayed right in place for the duration of my painting session! It was pretty cold for painting too. I'm not going to lie, I didn't last long myself. :)

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2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

(A good thing to add to your Christmas list!)

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

Dockside Line Up

Dockside Line Up, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

Shrimp boats in the low country make such a beautiful sight... whether they are hard at work out in the ocean (with millions of birds circling them), or resting quietly at the dock. I love painting them because it's such a challenge. They are incredibly complicated with booms and nets and lines going everywhere. But for me, it's all about the overall scene... the light, the setting, the colors, and the feeling. Too much hard detail will distract from that. My strategy is to get the basic positions, shapes, and angles as accurate as possible, and simply suggest all the rigging. Then I let the eye fill in the rest. 

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2019 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

November 8-9, 2019 - Austin, Texas

Contemporary Austin Art School, FULL - Register for waitlist Here 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

Contact Helena Hauk, Wimberley Artists Workshops, 800-327-1913

Date is firm - details coming soon!

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

Contact Mary Anderson, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, 912-634-8414

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

Contemporary Austin Art School, Registration opens in December

Seaworthy

Seaworthy, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

SOLD

This past weekend I made a quick trip down to St. Simons Island, and that almost always means some good painting time outside! It's fun to just start driving and see what inspires. Boats always catch my eye and sailboats have a special romance. Even though I don't even know how to sail, I sure do love the look of them! This one was docked and ready for a run... fortunately, it stayed put for the duration of my painting. :)

For those of you who have kindly inquired, ours and our family's homes were all spared any damage in Hurricane Irma. There was quite a bit of flooding on the island, and many trees were stripped and burned by the salt winds. The island was closed for almost a week, but I am happy to report that all is now calm. These storms are scary. 

Ready and Waiting - with Process Shots

Ready and Waiting, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

Available

Rows of boats always compel me to stop and take a closer look. Their shapes and lines create interesting rhythms across the landscape. I loved how these were peeking through the foliage and catching the light. It was fun to get just a suggestion of the hulls and masts!

Here are a few process shots from the scene to the finish. I have to admit that once I start painting, I forget to stop and take pictures, so there are a few missing steps. (Best laid plans, as they say!!!)

The scene from my easel

 My block in

Adding color

Final painting

Painting friends... 

Please join me at these upcoming fall workshops:

Still Life: Color and Form - September 16-17, 2016, 9am-4pm.

En Plein Air: Shape and Movement - November 4-5, 2016, 9am-4pm. 

Contact: The Contemporary Austin School of Art 512-323-6380, or click HERE.

Boat Launch

Boat Launch, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Boating through the inter-coastal waterways on St. Simons Island always begins at this funky, old boat launch for our family. My father in law had a boat for years and this spot came to be associated with the joys of summer outings. He knows the maze-like waterways like the back of his hand… knowledge acquired through of a lifetime of experience. 

Seafaring Vessels - Anderson Gallery Exhibit

Seafaring Vessels, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

SOLD at Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Well-loved boats, old docks and colorful reflections get me every time. I discovered this spot on Jekyll Island (on the Georgia coast) several years ago and have gone back to paint it from different angles several times. "Seafaring Vessels" was directly inspired by those delightful plein air moments. 

This piece will be on display in my solo show "Marshside to Seaside" at the Anderson Gallery on St. Simons Island, April 24 -May 25. Click HERE to see the entire show on my website. 

Evening Benediction and Twilight's Quickening Ray

 Evening Benediction, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

Twilight's Quickening Ray, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Oh, the night sky... it keeps us looking up, doesn't it? I am always mesmerized as the sun sinks on the horizon. Each moment offers a different variety of colors and shapes, only to be topped by the next. It never ceases to amaze. 

These two paintings will be in my show, "Landscapes: Interior-Exterior", at the Davis Gallery in Austin, Texas. The opening reception is THIS Saturday, October 5, 7-9 pm. Please join us!

Boatyard Line-up

Boatyard Line-up, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

These catamarans were quite a sight - all lined up and ready to go. Local ocean goers store their boats in a gated pen right next to the main beach on St. Simons, and they have secret codes for getting in and out. We found them to a be a gregarious and friendly bunch. Each one was nicer than the last... "sure, you can paint in here!"... "stand wherever you want!"... "would you mind just pulling in the gate when you leave?" So we did all those things. I guess we didn't look suspicious.


Please sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter by clicking HERE... 
And look for July/August issue that is coming out next week. 

Boat Shed

Boat Shed, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

I painted this plein air piece the small, rural town of Meridian, Georgia. This shed sits right next to the local post office and I am pretty sure that every member of the community stopped by for their mail while we were painting. They were a friendly bunch and more than several of them stopped to tell us the history of the old shed...


Apparently, there was once an old country store next door that purchased "deertongue" by the pound (named for it's appearance - it looks like a deer's tongue). Deertongue is an indigenous, vanilla flavored plant that was used by the tobacco industry back in the 1900's to flavor cigarettes and pipe tobacco. Folks would collect these leaves in the countryside and bring them to the store for extra cash. One guy remembered working in these old sheds as a kid, processing and bundling the herb. Lots of history in this place! :)

Fishing Boats

Fishing Boats, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

I loved this turquoise boat docked on the river. The light was hitting it "just so" and the tide was swirling beside it. For those who know this area, I was under the bridge on Jekyll Island and after painting, we had a lovely lunch on the wide outdoor porch at Sea Jay's! Life is good! :)

In For Repair

In For Repair, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Last weekend I went down to paint on the Texas coast for a few days with good friend and painting buddy Lynn Cohagan. We met up with other members of the Outdoor Painters Society and had a great time. The sun could not have been sunnier... and the wind could not have been windier! We attempted to avoid 20+ mph gusts by hiding behind my car in this boat yard. Though you can't see it my painting (which looks remarkably calm) we were literally holding onto our easels to paint!!! You know what they say, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!" :)

Marina Storage

Marina Storage, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

Last week, I made a visit back to Westlake Beach, the site of many of my small paintings in August. This scene has been in my head since my very first painting there. The play of the light and shadows stops me every time and I have stored up my observations in anticipation. I wanted to wait until it was cooler and I could take more time to really "get" all the elements. A sunny, fall day was just the ticket! :)

Marina Reflections

Marina Reflections, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

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I live very near Westlake Beach, a wonderful, family-owned marina and lakeside park on Lake Austin. It's a charming piece of old Austin that has been around for 56 years - quirky and untouched by the fast pace of current life. Think about creaky docks, wooden picnic tables, beach toys and windchimes, the smell of boats and gas, and you may get the picture. This summer, the owners have granted me special access to come and paint there in the early hours before it gets too hot. What a peaceful way to start my days!! This is the first of my "Westlake Beach" paintings.

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Harbor Storm

Harbor Storm, 6 x 8, L. Daniel, SOLD

Last week we went up to the little harbor town of Darien, Georgia to paint on the docks. The sky was threatening but we pressed on. I no sooner got set up that it began to rain and I had to move under a bridge for shelter. My view was slightly altered, but I could see the color of all the major parts... thankfully I was doing a small one! :)

See more Small Works